In this review, we will be comparing Sonetto V and S60, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus Faber and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus Sonetto V and Polk S60 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus Sonetto V Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 7" aluminum cone Woofer
- 38-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:22.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1072.0" x 10" x 16"( 1072.0 x 258.0 x 409.0mm )
Polk S60 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 26-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:23.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1131.0" x 11-3/4" x 15-3/4"( 1131.0 x 299.0 x 401.0mm )
What size room are the Sonus Sonetto V and Polk S60 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
Listening Environment* |
Sonus Sonetto V |
Polk S60 |
Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
Large Room |
Good |
Good |
Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Sonetto V and Polk S60 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sonetto V is a 3-way design whereas the S60 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
Sonus Sonetto V |
Polk S60 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.15-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Sonetto V features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 235 and 3.000 Hz. On the other hand, the S60 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Sonetto V has a frequency range of 38-25k Hz whereas S60 has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the S60 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Sonetto V's min frequency of 38Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Sonetto V is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the S60 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Sonetto V can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 90 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Sonetto V and S60 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Sonus Sonetto V's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Polk S60's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sonetto V and S60 have bottom firing ports.
Polk S60 Port
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Sonus Sonetto V's and Polk S60's external dimensions. Sonus Sonetto V has external dimensions of 1072.0 x 258.0 x 409.0mm ( 42 x 10 x 16inch) whereas Polk S60 has external dimensions of 1131.0 x 299.0 x 401.0mm ( 44-1/2 x 11-3/4 x 15-3/4inch) .
Sonus Sonetto V is 41mm narrower and 59mm shorter than Polk S60 but it is also 8mm deeper.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Sonus Sonetto V is approximately 1055.2cm2 / 163.6inch2 and base area of the Polk S60 is approximately 1199.0cm2 / 185.8inch2. The Sonetto V requires 12% less surface area than the S60 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Sonus Sonetto V weighs 22.60kg / 49.7lbs and the Polk S60 weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs. This makes the S60 4% heavier than the Sonetto V.
Here is a comparison of how Sonetto V and S60's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonus Sonetto V?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonetto V:
8 Spikes8 Under Spikes8 Spike locks2 Masks2 Fabric dust guards2 Basis16 Locking screws2 Jumpers1 Allen Wrench1 Manual
What's in the Box of Polk S60?
Here are the items that come with the S60:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Height |
1072mm
vs
1131mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1055cm2
vs
1199cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
General |
Sonus Faber Sonetto V |
Polk Audio Signature S60 |
Brand |
Sonus Faber |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
50-300 watts |
20-300 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
38-25k Hz |
26-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
Woofer Size |
7" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
aluminum cone |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.15" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
high definition DAD Dome |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
235 and 3.000 Hz |
2500Hz |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1072.0mm (42.2") |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
Width |
258.0mm (10.2") |
299.0mm (11.8") |
Depth |
409.0mm (16.1") |
401.0mm (15.8") |
Weight |
22.60kg (49.7lbs) |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
n/a |
Meddite MDF |
Available Colors |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
Black |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |